BUSINESSES in Cirencester were celebrated on Friday night at an annual award ceremony, with many jubilant entrepreneurs coming away with prizes and certificates - and even complimentary t-shirts.

For the fifth year running, Cirencester Chamber of Commerce hosted the Cirencester Business Awards, rewarding and celebrating the best the town has to offer.

This year the ceremony was held at the town's newly opened Kings Head Hotel, and chamber committee members were delighted to receive so many entries. A spokesman said the judges were very impressed with the quality of each one.

"What a brilliant night!" said chamber president Anthony Flynn. "The awards went brilliantly, and already the feedback is very positive, especially on social media.

"We had a record number of people, a record number of entries, a sparkling new venue and we feel these awards really reflected the quality, diversity and vibrancy of the Cirencester business community.

"I am proud of what we have achieved and thank everyone for making it a success."

Local firm owners, young and old, enjoyed a three-course dinner at the Market Place hotel on Friday night, before the awards ceremony started.

See all the winners and runners-up below.

The Standard will be contacting each award winner in the coming weeks to do a special business award profile. Keep an eye on the website wiltsglosstandard.co.uk and the paper to see more.

 

2015 Cirencester Business Awards winners:

Business Person of the Year
Award sponsor: Davey Law
Runners-up: Les Stephens, owner of Prints & Threads
Tom Wharton, owner of Barrington Ayre
WINNER: Garden designer Geoffrey Carr

Team of the Year Award
Award Sponsor: McGills
Runner up: Cirencester Sales and Lettings
WINNER: Athena Web Designs

Collaboration of the Year
Award sponsor: Verle Timepieces
Runner up: Corinium Ales (Boozy Fusion)
WINNER: Conceptualise (a group of business individuals combined to offer support to new firms)

Retailer of the Year
Award sponsor: Cirencester College
Runner up: Prints & Threads.
WINNER: Barrington Ayre - Tailor and shirtmaker

Business Innovation of the Year
Award sponsor: The Bathurst Estate
Runner-up: SoberDrive
WINNER: BespOak Interiors

Professional Services Provider of the Year
Runners-up: Cirencester Sales and Lettings and Davey Law
WINNER: Perry Bishop & Chambers

New Business of the Year
Award Sponsor: Air Salvage International
Runner-up: Let's Play Music
WINNER: Cirencester Sales & Lettings

Young Business Person of the Year
Award Sponsor: Geoffrey Carr Garden Design
Runner-up: Callum Coles
WINNER: Jake Grant-Smith, owner of Lord Barber Shop

Wilts & Glos Standard Customer Service Award
WINNER: Café Mosaic


Business and Professional Life Cirencester Ambassador
WINNER: Tom Wharton of Barrington Ayre

Cirencester Scene Creatives Champion Award
WINNER: Geoffrey Carr

Cirencester Chamber of Commerce Award
Every year, the Chamber is able to give a ‘special award’, which has no set parameters or category. The award is given in recognition of a business or an individual who has made a significant contribution to Cirencester in some way. This year, the Chamber of Commerce award is presented to someone who really put Cirencester on the map in 2014. Working under the umbrella of Cirencester Community Development Trust she came up with an idea and saw it through to a very successful conclusion. In addition to raising a significant sum of money for charity, businesses benefitted from increased footfall in the town.
WINNER: Florence Beetlestone, organiser of the Hare Festival